Raiders lose in title game for 2nd straight year

Published: Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 11:18 PM.

The Northwest Florida State Raiders ran out of comebacks.

And the result was a second straight loss in the NJCAA National Championship Game.

Faced with a deficit that reached as many as 15 points in the second half, the Raiders tried to rally but came up short in the title game to in-state foe Central Florida, who fought off a late rally from the Raiders to earn a 74-69 win and the first national championship in school history.

"We didn't start very well offensively, we just couldn't finish at the basket," said NWF State head coach Steve Forbes, who is now 63-6 in his two seasons in Niceville. "But my guys played their hearts out. We just didn't have enough to get it done in the end."

With the loss, NWF State ends its season at 30-4 after winning four games at the NJCAA National Tournament. The Raiders got past USC-Salkehatchie, New Mexico, Iowa Western and Vincennes to reach the title game for the second straight season, one year after falling to South Plains.

This time, the Raiders gave up a 21-6 run midway through the first half that turned a 15-15 tie into a 15-point lead for the Patriots, which gave Central Florida enough of a cushion to ward off the Raiders' eventual run.

Down 43-33 at the half, the Raiders fell behind by 15 again at 50-35 four minutes into the second half, committing seven quick fouls early to encounter foul trouble. Forwards Elgin Cook and Michael Chandler were each whistled for flagrant offensive fouls in the title game, while guard Lamin Fulton fouled out.

Still, the Raiders rallied, cutting the lead to as little as three points on two occasions. All-America point guard Chris Jones, held scoreless until the 14-minute mark of the second half, scored eight straight at one point to trim the lead. Jones finished with 12 points.

Getting no closer than three points, the Raiders were unable to climb back due to a failure to hit shots down the stretch. After Tevin Wilkerson hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 55-52 with nine minutes to go, NWF State missed its last 12 from behind the arc.

"Credit goes to them," said Forbes. "They defended us really well and we didn't hit shots. They play that 2-3 zone and we tried to attack it inside but we couldn't make shots."

A 3-pointer from Rashaun Suarez with four minutes left gave Central Florida a 71-60 lead, enough to secure the program's first national title.

"They are a great team with great players," said Central Florida head coach Tim Ryan, whose Patriots also eliminated the Raiders in the Region 8/FCSAA State Tournament. "We knew they would make a run and we got caught in playing rushed there for a bit, but we settled down and made the plays we had to make."

For the Raiders, Elgin Cook led the way with 15 points while Fulton added 13 and Jones 12.

The loss ends a second consecutive banner season for Northwest Florida State, which entered the NJCAA Tournament as an at-large entrant and won four games in five days to play for a championship.

"This was important for our program," said Forbes. Getting to the national championship game for two years in a row is a great accomplishment. I think we were the first team in history to play five games in this tournament, so i think we represented the at-large bid the right way."

Cook, Jones and freshman Tevin Glass all made the All-Tournament team for the Raiders.

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And the result was a second straight loss in the NJCAA National Championship Game.

Faced with a deficit that reached as many as 15 points in the second half, the Raiders tried to rally but came up short in the title game to in-state foe Central Florida, who fought off a late rally from the Raiders to earn a 74-69 win and the first national championship in school history.

"We didn't start very well offensively, we just couldn't finish at the basket," said NWF State head coach Steve Forbes, who is now 63-6 in his two seasons in Niceville. "But my guys played their hearts out. We just didn't have enough to get it done in the end."

With the loss, NWF State ends its season at 30-4 after winning four games at the NJCAA National Tournament. The Raiders got past USC-Salkehatchie, New Mexico, Iowa Western and Vincennes to reach the title game for the second straight season, one year after falling to South Plains.

This time, the Raiders gave up a 21-6 run midway through the first half that turned a 15-15 tie into a 15-point lead for the Patriots, which gave Central Florida enough of a cushion to ward off the Raiders' eventual run.

Down 43-33 at the half, the Raiders fell behind by 15 again at 50-35 four minutes into the second half, committing seven quick fouls early to encounter foul trouble. Forwards Elgin Cook and Michael Chandler were each whistled for flagrant offensive fouls in the title game, while guard Lamin Fulton fouled out.

Still, the Raiders rallied, cutting the lead to as little as three points on two occasions. All-America point guard Chris Jones, held scoreless until the 14-minute mark of the second half, scored eight straight at one point to trim the lead. Jones finished with 12 points.

Getting no closer than three points, the Raiders were unable to climb back due to a failure to hit shots down the stretch. After Tevin Wilkerson hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 55-52 with nine minutes to go, NWF State missed its last 12 from behind the arc.

"Credit goes to them," said Forbes. "They defended us really well and we didn't hit shots. They play that 2-3 zone and we tried to attack it inside but we couldn't make shots."

A 3-pointer from Rashaun Suarez with four minutes left gave Central Florida a 71-60 lead, enough to secure the program's first national title.

"They are a great team with great players," said Central Florida head coach Tim Ryan, whose Patriots also eliminated the Raiders in the Region 8/FCSAA State Tournament. "We knew they would make a run and we got caught in playing rushed there for a bit, but we settled down and made the plays we had to make."

For the Raiders, Elgin Cook led the way with 15 points while Fulton added 13 and Jones 12.

The loss ends a second consecutive banner season for Northwest Florida State, which entered the NJCAA Tournament as an at-large entrant and won four games in five days to play for a championship.

"This was important for our program," said Forbes. Getting to the national championship game for two years in a row is a great accomplishment. I think we were the first team in history to play five games in this tournament, so i think we represented the at-large bid the right way."

Cook, Jones and freshman Tevin Glass all made the All-Tournament team for the Raiders.